Kate Farrell My grandfather owned racehorses--not for the big time, and not even with a jockey. His sport was harness racing: Horses pulled a two-wheeled cart called a sulky with a driver. Grandfather raced in county fairs around the Midwest--starting in the 20s. Grandmother said he would not give up his horses in the Great Depression, and sacrificed all else to keep them. One summer in the late 40s, my family visited our grandparents in Kewanee, Illinois, when I was eight years old, and my older brother ten. We found treasures in the attic, trophies of all the many wins, silver and gold plated loving cups, mounted horses, and platters. By that time, Grandfather had named a horse for each grandchild. But the one horse who was the runaway champion was named for me, Katie F.

We were eager to see her race--and win. At last, the day came, my brother and I rode with our grandparents to the county fair in Princeton, Illinois, to see the horse races and watch Katie F. We climbed up the stairs of the white, wooden grandstand and watched her race on the dusty, oval racing track, rounding the bend, one time, two times, and finally coming around the bend on the home stretch. We were jumping up and down in the bleacher seats, banging loudly, yelling over and over, "Come on, Katie F!" She came nearer to the stands and the finish line--in the lead. And she won! We shrieked. After the race, I wandered away from the family to the stables. I searched for my horse by her stable sign, painted in gold letters on bright green, Katie F. She leaned out of the half door and I came closer, awestruck.

I admired her shining, chestnut-brown coat, the powerful muscles of a standardbred. She towered over me. I dared not touch her outstretched nose, but came closer. She seemed to look right at me, and I heard her say without a sound, "You do that." I knew she meant for me to be like her, to win my race. She was my totem, my namesake. After all these years, the only object that survived my grandfather's horseracing was that wooden, stable sign: Katie F. It has traveled from place to place; kept by different family members.

Katie F. is our legend, the great-hearted spirit of a winner.